Australian Government

Bureau of Meteorology


Coastal Waters Forecast 

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IDW11120

Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology
Western Australia

Coastal Waters Forecast for Western Australia
Northern Zones: NT-WA Border to North West Cape

Issued at 8:43 am WST on Wednesday 20 May 2026
for the period until midnight WST Friday 22 May 2026.

Please be aware
Wind and wave forecasts are averages. Wind gusts can be 40 per cent stronger than the forecast, and stronger still in squalls and thunderstorms. Maximum waves can be twice the forecast height.

Warning Information

For latest warnings go to www.bom.gov.au, subscribe to RSS feeds, call 1300 659 210* or listen for warnings on relevant TV and radio broadcasts.

Weather Situation

A ridge to the south will bring moderate to fresh east to southeasterly winds through the Pilbara and Kimberley waters, easing for a period on Friday.

North Kimberley Coast: WA-NT Border to Kuri Bay

Forecast for Wednesday 20 May until midnight

Strong Wind Warning for Wednesday for North Kimberley Coast

Winds: East to southeasterly 15 to 25 knots, reaching up to 30 knots during the morning. Seas: 1.5 to 2.5 metres. Swell: East to northeasterly below 1 metre. Weather: Cloudy. 50% chance of showers. The chance of a thunderstorm west of Kalumburu in the late afternoon and evening.

Forecast for Thursday 21 May

Winds: East to southeasterly 15 to 20 knots. Seas: 1 to 2 metres, decreasing to 1 metre by early evening. Swell: East to northeasterly below 1 metre. Weather: Mostly sunny.

Forecast for Friday 22 May

Winds: East to southeasterly 15 to 20 knots becoming variable about 10 knots during the afternoon. Seas: 1 to 1.5 metres, decreasing below 1 metre during the afternoon or evening. Swell: Northeasterly below 1 metre. Weather: Sunny.

West Kimberley Coast: Kuri Bay to Wallal

Forecast for Wednesday 20 May until midnight

Winds: Easterly 15 to 20 knots, reaching up to 25 knots offshore south of Broome during the morning. Seas: 1 to 2 metres, decreasing below 1.5 metres during the afternoon. Swell: North to northeasterly around 1 metre. Weather: Partly cloudy. 60% chance of showers. The chance of a thunderstorm.

Forecast for Thursday 21 May

Winds: East to northeasterly 15 to 20 knots. Seas: 1 to 1.5 metres, decreasing to 1 metre during the afternoon. Swell: North to northeasterly around 1 metre. Weather: Partly cloudy. 90% chance of showers offshore south of Cape Leveque, 50% chance elsewhere. The chance of a thunderstorm.

Forecast for Friday 22 May

Winds: Northeast to southeasterly 10 to 15 knots becoming variable about 10 knots during the afternoon then becoming northeast to southeasterly 10 to 15 knots during the evening. Seas: Around 1 metre. Swell: North to northeasterly below 1 metre. Weather: Partly cloudy. 60% chance of showers. The chance of a thunderstorm in the morning.

Pilbara Coast East: Wallal to Cape Preston

Forecast for Wednesday 20 May until midnight

Strong Wind Warning for Wednesday for Pilbara Coast East

Winds: Easterly 15 to 25 knots, reaching up to 30 knots during the morning and early afternoon. Seas: 1.5 to 2.5 metres. Swell: East to northeasterly around 1 metre. Weather: Partly cloudy. 70% chance of showers. The chance of a thunderstorm in the morning and afternoon.

Forecast for Thursday 21 May

Winds: Easterly 15 to 25 knots. Seas: 1.5 to 2 metres, decreasing to 1 to 1.5 metres during the afternoon. Swell: North to northeasterly around 1 metre inshore, increasing to 1 to 1.5 metres offshore west of Port Hedland during the morning. Weather: Cloudy. 80% chance of showers. The chance of a thunderstorm offshore east of Port Hedland in the morning and early afternoon.

Forecast for Friday 22 May

Winds: East to southeasterly 15 to 20 knots. Seas: 1 to 1.5 metres, decreasing below 1 metre during the afternoon or evening. Swell: North to northeasterly below 1 metre. Weather: Partly cloudy.

Pilbara Coast West: Cape Preston to North West Cape

Forecast for Wednesday 20 May until midnight

Strong Wind Warning for Wednesday for Pilbara Coast West

Winds: Easterly 15 to 25 knots, reaching up to 30 knots offshore during the morning and early afternoon. Seas: 1.5 to 2.5 metres. 1st Swell: West to southwesterly around 1 metre offshore. 2nd Swell: East to northeasterly around 1 metre inshore, increasing to 1 to 1.5 metres offshore east of Barrow Island. Weather: Partly cloudy. 60% chance of showers. The chance of a thunderstorm in the morning and afternoon.

Forecast for Thursday 21 May

Winds: Easterly 15 to 20 knots, reaching up to 25 knots east of Barrow Island during the morning and early afternoon. Seas: 1 to 2 metres, decreasing to 1 metre by early evening. 1st Swell: East to northeasterly below 1 metre inshore, increasing to 1 to 1.5 metres offshore around midday. 2nd Swell: West to southwesterly around 1 metre offshore. Weather: Partly cloudy. 50% chance of showers.

Forecast for Friday 22 May

Winds: East to southeasterly 15 to 20 knots becoming variable about 10 knots during the afternoon then becoming south to southwesterly 10 to 15 knots during the evening. Seas: Around 1 metre. 1st Swell: West to southwesterly around 1 metre offshore, increasing to 1 to 1.5 metres during the afternoon. 2nd Swell: North to northeasterly around 1 metre. Weather: Sunny.

The next routine forecast will be issued at 1:01 pm WST Wednesday.

* Calls to 1300 numbers cost around 27.5c incl. GST, higher from mobiles or public phones. Marine forecasts are also available on VHF and HF radio. View the radio schedule on www.bom.gov.au/marine

Check the latest Coastal Waters Forecasts for information on wind, wave and weather conditions for neighbouring coastal zones